Lighting

Smart lighting maker Lifx announced an upgraded version of the Lifx Z light strip kit-- one complete with native HomeKit support, with no need for a bridge device to add connectivity.

Lifx lighting strips do not need a hub device, since they connect directly to wifi. They also support Alexa and Google Assistant, are dimmable and support up to 16 million colours. Customers can divide the strips into 8 separate controllable zones for additional configurability, as well as pair them with other Lifx lighting systems such as the Tile panel or Beam rails.

Lighting vendor Ledvance announces a pair of additions to the HomeKit-enabled Sylvania range-- the Soft White A19 bulb and the Indoor Flex Strip Full Colour.

The Soft White bulb s a less expensive version of the Smart Multicolor A19, a smart bulb announced back in January 2017. However, as the name suggests, the Soft White cannot change colour. It is dimmable, rated at 800 lumens and works with any lamp compatible with A19 bulbs.

Lighting company LIFX announces a wifi-connected means for customers to add coloured accent lighting to their homes-- Beam Kit, a thin light rail one can control via companion app.

Customers can arrange the Beam strips in a variety of different shapes to provide "cutting edge illumination" for home accent lighting. The package contains 6 individual Beams, together with 1 corner connector piece and a power pack. In turn, each Beam is 10cm long and features 10 blending light zones for a range of colours.

British company Bare Conductive takes to Kickstarter to launch the Electric Paint Lamp Kit-- a means to turn "any piece of paper" into a touch-sensitive lamp, with not tools, programming or special skills required.

The kit contains three different lamps, namely a touch version, one with a dimmer and a proximity lamp controlled by putting a hand over a pad. All use a non-toxic electrically conductive paint dubbed Electric Paint. It works on a variety of materials (including paper, plastic and textiles), and acts as buttons for a light-up board made of 6 LEDs.

The light-up board is USB-powered and features the 3 aforementioned lighting modes. As well as paper, the board and paint can also be used with lamps made of different materials, allowing one to go really creative if they have a cutting machine Cameo at hand.

Savant first introduced the TrueImage back in 2009-- and now the lighting control interface is back, as the company reveals the next generation of TrueImage at CEDIA 2017.

According to Savant, TrueImage leverages patented virtual lighting concepts to allow users experience virtual lights in any rooms on their mobile devices. The software runs on iOS and Android devices, and uses the cameras found in smartphones and tablets to quickly take photographs of rooms or light fixtures.

Once a photo is taken and stored, all user interfaces in the system update automatically, including the Savant App, touchscreens and remotes. One can touch, control and dim lights in a simulated version of the room using the photographic image, and TrueImage updates the colour and dimness setting of the light on the interface in real time.

The switch fits in standard rocking faceplates to integrate with existing lighting systems, with no extra wiring required. Installation should also be like any standard wall switch, with support for single pole, 3- and 4-way setups. The in-app dim range settings promise to prevent low-level bulb flickers, and it remembers the last brightness state.

Trådfri, the smart lighting range from Swedish furniture maker Ikea, gets more control options through compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit.

Previously the lighting range offered control solely through companion app. The Trådfri range offers a variety of products, including a motion sensor kit, dimming kit and LED light panels and doors, with more to be added in the future.

Popular

Netflix releases its list of recommended TVs for 2017-- a program highlighting TVs offering seamless integration with the video streaming service.
Sets making the list include LG 4K UHD TVs with... Read more

Control4 buys more audio capabilities with Triad Speakers, the maker of advanced audio technology with customisable speaker solutions. The price? Approximately €9.07 million.
“Entertainment is integral to the connected home and... Read more

LG launches plans of a "dual premium" TV strategy for 2017-- one involving the launch of OLED screens together with next generation Super UHD LED TVs featuring Nano Cell technology.
Upcoming... Read more